With only about 40 days left until Bealtaine 2013, we are very pleased to welcome events from arts centres, libraries, groups, clubs, care settings and other organisers for inclusion on the listings. Our theme for this year is ‘Grow Happy’. John Butler Yeats, the father of poet WB Yeats, wrote in a letter that "Happiness... is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing or that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing". Bealtaine is a reminder to us that, no matter what our age, we always have the potential for growth. Come and grow happy with us!

Some highlights for us so far are the 'Complaints Choir' on 1 May which will transform the nation's moans and groans into a beautiful musical piece. 'The Man in The Woman's Shoes' is touring theatres around the country (and if I could give you one piece of advice - DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW - you'll be kicking yourself if you do). The slow craft project 'Wandering Methods' will be exhibiting in Rathfarnham Castle in Dublin from mid-May. Photographer Kate Byrne is exhibiting her work in the Highlanes Gallery in Drogheda and will be speaking about the exhibition at a special Bealtaine event in the gallery.

Our 'Dawn Chorus', on the morning of 26 May, is going all European. Thanks to Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we have developed a DIY guide to running your own Dawn Chorus, (which will also be available in Polish, Spanish, Hungarian and French) from the Bealtaine website. So far, we have confirmed Dawn Choruses in Avoca, Ballina, Carhaix-Plouguer in France, Carlingford, Carrickmacross, Castlebar, Dollymount, Donegal Town, Dunderry Park, Dunmore East, Kinsale and Ranelagh.

Keep an eye out for the Bealtaine newspaper and for your local or county listings. Also check the listings on our website bealtaine.com from the second week of April. Experience exhibitions, workshops and concerts near you. Wherever you are, this could be the year you grow happy.